Your Name: Tatyana Leite Professor Nancy Noonan EDC 102
Introduction South Kingstown is a town located in Washington County, also commonly known as South County, in Southern Rhode Island. With 30,369 people residing in South Kingstown, its population is fairly large. However, what makes South Kingstown unique is that it is the largest town in its county as well as in Rhode Island, covering an area of 63 square miles.
The town of South Kingstown harbors a handful of villages, one being the village of Peace Dale, which is oftentimes directly associated with the village of Wakefield. Based on the US Census, the population of Wakefield-Peacedale is 8,487. This context statement is a source for people looking to move to South Kingstown with elementary age children. More specifically, it is designed for children that will attend Peace Dale elementary school.
Peace Dale Elementary School is a suburban public elementary school located on Kersey Road in the village of Peace Dale, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Built in 1854, Peace Dale Elementary was originally a one-room brick building with a slate roof. Today, the school holds a full size gymnasium, a media center, a computer lab, and 28 classrooms. Although the school has undergone many renovations since opening, the brick exterior and slate roof have remained (Peace Dale Elementary School).
Although the school is able to accommodate 625 students, there are only nearly 400 students enrolled in Peace Dale Elementary School, in grades kindergarten through fourth, and the school day begins at 8:53am and ends at 3:13pm. Peace Dale Elementary School, one of four elementary schools in South Kingstown, is a part of the South Kingstown school district. The school has a principal, Susan Martin, and a dean of students, Marilyn DiMicco, as well as 20 classroom teachers, 6 special educators, a media specialist, a school psychologist, a social worker, and a school nurse (Peace Dale Elementary School).
Community Background Income/Poverty
South Kingstown
Rhode Island
US
Median household income
$61,821
$56,102
$53,046
Median family income
$90,708
$72,872
$64,585
Per capita income
$32,954
$30,005
$28,051
All families below poverty level
6.3%
9.2%
10.9%
All people below the poverty level
7.7%
13.2%
14.9%
According to the United States Census, South Kingstown is above average on the financial spectrum. The median household income in South Kingstown is $61,821, which is nearly $6,000 more than the median household income in Rhode Island and nearly $9,000 more than the median household income in the United States. Similarly, when looking at median family income, South Kingston families make nearly $18,000 more than families in Rhode Island, and nearly $30,000 more than families in Rhode Island overall. To put it simply, all of the incomes in Peace Dale are higher than the Rhode Island and national averages. This may be true because about 50% of adults, ages 25 to 64, in South Kingstown received a bachelor’s degree or higher. Furthermore, it is important to note that in South Kingstown, only 6.3% of families are below the poverty level, where as in Rhode Island it is just above 9% and in the United States it is 10.9%.
Race/Ethnicity
South Kingstown
Rhode Island
US
White
90.3%
81.4%
72.4%
Black/African Americans
1.8%
5.7%
12.6%
Asian
1.4%
2.9%
4.8%
Hispanic or Latino
2.5%
12.4%
16.3%
American Indian and Alaskan native
2.6%
0.6%
0.9%
Peace Dale is not a very diverse community. The white population, which is 81.4% in Rhode Island, is 90.3% in South Kingstown. This leaves under 10% for other races in South Kingstown. Other races include black/African-Americans, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native. The majority of the other races are American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Census-based Indicators
South Kingstown
Rhode Island
Child Population
5,416
223,956
Children in single-parent households
20%
31%
Children living in families below the federal poverty threshold
6.0%
18.4%
Children living in grandparent headed households
5%
6%
There are 223,956 children in Rhode Island, and 5,416 of those children live in South Kingstown. Of those children, 20% live in single-parent households, which may come as a surprise considering the overall financial well being of families in South Kingstown is still very high. Some may believe that single-family households are an indicator of poverty, but this is not the case in South Kingstown, as the poverty rate is significantly is significantly lower than that of Rhode Island’s overall.
Health
South Kingstown
Rhode Island
Child abuse and neglect rate per 1,000 children
8.3%
14.0%
Children with incarcerated parents
4.2%
11.2%
Domestic violence incidents with children present
38%
31%
In the above tables, it is shown that that child health statistics in South Kingstown are better than the average rates in the state of Rhode Island. Overall, the health and well being of children in South Kingstown is good. However, it is shocking to see that the percentage of domestic violence incidents that occur with children present is 7% higher in South Kingstown than it is in Rhode Island overall. This could potentially affect or concern children living in South Kingstown, as well as families looking to move there.
Education
South Kingstown
Rhode Island
Children enrolled in early head start
0
503
Children enrolled in full-day kindergarten
100%
70%
English language learners
1%
7%
Special education
13%
17%
Although 100% of children in South Kingstown are enrolled in full-day kindergarten, 0% are enrolled in the Early Head Start Program and only 1% are English language learners. This is just yet another reflection of the wealth and lack of diversity in South Kingstown, because Early Head Start is a program for children from low-income families, and almost all children in South Kingstown come from middle-class white families.
District Summary Moving on to Peace Dale Elementary School's school district, we will take a look at NECAP test scores and other student characteristics in the South Kingstown school district. We will also compare statistics with those from the Barrington, a very high-income district, and Central Falls, a very low-income district, in order to give a better understanding of the statistics on a broader and more diverse spectrum.
NECAP
NECAP Assessments
Rhode Island
South Kingstown
Barrington
Central Falls
3rd Grade Math
56
82
79
29
3rd Grade Reading
69
84
89
43
4th Grade Math
63
79
78
42
4th Grade Reading
70
82
88
44
4th Grade Science
41
64
68
21
The districts being compared to South Kingstown above are Barrington, with a median household income of $103,211, and Central Falls, with a median household income of $29,268. As previously stated, South Kingstown has a median household income of $61,821. One may assume that a higher median household income means more money for better resources, and thus better test scores. This may be true in regards to Central Falls, whose very low median household income is reflected in low test scores. However, in the above chart of NECAP test scores in all three districts, South Kingstown is easily comparable to Barrington, scoring very close to or even higher than Barrington did, despite the vast difference in median household incomes.
Teaching: Qualifications and Teacher-Student Ratio
Rhode Island
South Kingstown
Barrington
Central Falls
Teachers with Emergency Certification
1%
0%
0%
<1%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:14
1:13
1:14
1:15
Although all three compared districts are very different, their teaching qualifications and teacher-student ratio are about the same.
School Analysis NECAP
Rhode Island
Peacedale Elementary School
Primrose Elementary School (Barrington)
Veterans Elementary School (Central Falls)
3rd Grade Math 2010-2011
56%
82%
78%
25%
3rd Grade Reading 2010-2011
69%
84%
90%
29%
4th Grade Math 2010-2011
63%
74%
39%
4th Grade Reading 2010-2011
70%
82%
41%
4th Grade Science 2010-2011
41%
61%
15%
Peace Dale Elementary School, although not a part of as wealthy a district as Primrose Elementary School in Barrington, strongly compares to their test scores. This shows that, although Peace Dale may not have as many resources as Primrose does, they are able to perform just as well, if not better.
Conclusion In conclusion, Peace Dale is a small village in a well-off town with much to offer to anyone looking to move there, such as schools like Peace Dale Elementary School. Although it is not a part of a district that is as wealthy as Barrington’s, Peace Dale Elementary School closely compares to Barrington’s Primrose Elementary school, in high NECAP test scores and attendance rates, as well as similar teacher qualifications and student-teacher ratios. Although diversity is not something that is assured in Peace Dale, as it would be in a city like Central Falls, it is true that the graduation rate is higher than Rhode Island’s average. Additionally, Peace Dale is only a few miles away from the University of Rhode Island, where Peace Dale Elementary School students could attend for in-state tuition in the future.
Aside from being so close to the state school, Peace Dale is not far from tourist attractions such as Narragansett, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Newport shops, restaurants, and beaches that make for great vacation spots during the summer season. With many surrounding resources and attractions, South Kingstown and Peace Dale Elementary School are a town and school with so much potential educational life experiences to offer.
Name: Tatyana Leite Grader: Chris Fletcher Score: 30/35
Introduction: 5/5 points 5: Intro provides an overview of the upcoming analysis, including what school/district/community is being analyzed, what aspects are being analyzed, and who the report is intended to inform. 4: Intro names the school/district/community and previews the scope of the report, but does not describe who the report is intended to inform. 3: Intro names the school/district/community but not much else. 2: Intro fails to name the school, district, and/or community. 0: No introduction section is apparent.
Comments on report's introduction:
Organization: 4/5 points 5: Report includes the following sections: Introduction, Community, District, School, Conclusion, References. 4: Report includes all sections but does not break information into paragraphs, has few transitions, or is otherwise lacking in coherence. 3: Report is missing one section. 2: Report is not divided into sections but contains some information on each. 1: Report is missing two or more sections.
Comments on report's organization:
Organize layout of the images and paragraphs better.
Mechanics: 2/5 points 5. All information is cited using APA in-text citations. A properly formatted References section appears at the end of the report. There are few typos or errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax. 4: Most information is cited and referenced using APA format. There are some errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax but they do not interfere with meaning. 3: Some information is not cited or referenced. APA format not followed or followed incorrectly. There are some errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax that interfere with meaning. 2: Most of the information is not cited. APA formatting is negligible or nonexistent. Multiple errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax interfere with meaning. 0: No citations. No references. Myriad errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax make the report a chore to read.
Comments on report’s mechanics/conventions:
Creativity: 5/5 5. Report is engaging and colorful. Charts, graphs, and images add professionalism and interest and are well integrated into the report. 4: Report contains some interesting sections. Charts, graphs and images are relevant and add interest to the report. 3: Report appears dull. Information is reported in a disengaged manner. Charts, graphs, and images add little to the report.
Comments on report's creativity:
Conclusion: 4/5 5: Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community and describes why findings should be important to reader. 4: Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community 3: Conclusion does not report back to report's findings. 1: Conclusion simply praises or condemns the school. 0: No conclusion.
Comments on report's conclusion:
Data/Analysis: 10/10 5: Report includes at least ten different facts in each section (school, community, district) and compares each figure with another relevant figure (e.g. state or national average). 4: Report includes at least eight different facts in each section and compares most figures with relevant figures. 3: Report includes at least six different facts in each section and compares some of the figures to other relevant figures. 2: Report includes at least four different facts in each section and compares some of the figures to other relevant figures. 0: Report includes less than four different facts for any section or fails to compare any figures with other relevant figures.
Tatyana Leite
Professor Nancy Noonan
EDC 102
Introduction
South Kingstown is a town located in Washington County, also commonly known as South County, in Southern Rhode Island. With 30,369 people residing in South Kingstown, its population is fairly large. However, what makes South Kingstown unique is that it is the largest town in its county as well as in Rhode Island, covering an area of 63 square miles.
The town of South Kingstown harbors a handful of villages, one being the village of Peace Dale, which is oftentimes directly associated with the village of Wakefield. Based on the US Census, the population of Wakefield-Peacedale is 8,487. This context statement is a source for people looking to move to South Kingstown with elementary age children. More specifically, it is designed for children that will attend Peace Dale elementary school.
Peace Dale Elementary School is a suburban public elementary school located on Kersey Road in the village of Peace Dale, in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Built in 1854, Peace Dale Elementary was originally a one-room brick building with a slate roof. Today, the school holds a full size gymnasium, a media center, a computer lab, and 28 classrooms. Although the school has undergone many renovations since opening, the brick exterior and slate roof have remained (Peace Dale Elementary School).
Although the school is able to accommodate 625 students, there are only nearly 400 students enrolled in Peace Dale Elementary School, in grades kindergarten through fourth, and the school day begins at 8:53am and ends at 3:13pm. Peace Dale Elementary School, one of four elementary schools in South Kingstown, is a part of the South Kingstown school district. The school has a principal, Susan Martin, and a dean of students, Marilyn DiMicco, as well as 20 classroom teachers, 6 special educators, a media specialist, a school psychologist, a social worker, and a school nurse (Peace Dale Elementary School).
Community Background
Income/Poverty
According to the United States Census, South Kingstown is above average on the financial spectrum. The median household income in South Kingstown is $61,821, which is nearly $6,000 more than the median household income in Rhode Island and nearly $9,000 more than the median household income in the United States. Similarly, when looking at median family income, South Kingston families make nearly $18,000 more than families in Rhode Island, and nearly $30,000 more than families in Rhode Island overall. To put it simply, all of the incomes in Peace Dale are higher than the Rhode Island and national averages. This may be true because about 50% of adults, ages 25 to 64, in South Kingstown received a bachelor’s degree or higher. Furthermore, it is important to note that in South Kingstown, only 6.3% of families are below the poverty level, where as in Rhode Island it is just above 9% and in the United States it is 10.9%.
Race/Ethnicity
Peace Dale is not a very diverse community. The white population, which is 81.4% in Rhode Island, is 90.3% in South Kingstown. This leaves under 10% for other races in South Kingstown. Other races include black/African-Americans, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native. The majority of the other races are American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Census-based Indicators
There are 223,956 children in Rhode Island, and 5,416 of those children live in South Kingstown. Of those children, 20% live in single-parent households, which may come as a surprise considering the overall financial well being of families in South Kingstown is still very high. Some may believe that single-family households are an indicator of poverty, but this is not the case in South Kingstown, as the poverty rate is significantly is significantly lower than that of Rhode Island’s overall.
Health
In the above tables, it is shown that that child health statistics in South Kingstown are better than the average rates in the state of Rhode Island. Overall, the health and well being of children in South Kingstown is good. However, it is shocking to see that the percentage of domestic violence incidents that occur with children present is 7% higher in South Kingstown than it is in Rhode Island overall. This could potentially affect or concern children living in South Kingstown, as well as families looking to move there.
Education
Although 100% of children in South Kingstown are enrolled in full-day kindergarten, 0% are enrolled in the Early Head Start Program and only 1% are English language learners. This is just yet another reflection of the wealth and lack of diversity in South Kingstown, because Early Head Start is a program for children from low-income families, and almost all children in South Kingstown come from middle-class white families.
District Summary
Moving on to Peace Dale Elementary School's school district, we will take a look at NECAP test scores and other student characteristics in the South Kingstown school district. We will also compare statistics with those from the Barrington, a very high-income district, and Central Falls, a very low-income district, in order to give a better understanding of the statistics on a broader and more diverse spectrum.
NECAP
The districts being compared to South Kingstown above are Barrington, with a median household income of $103,211, and Central Falls, with a median household income of $29,268. As previously stated, South Kingstown has a median household income of $61,821. One may assume that a higher median household income means more money for better resources, and thus better test scores. This may be true in regards to Central Falls, whose very low median household income is reflected in low test scores. However, in the above chart of NECAP test scores in all three districts, South Kingstown is easily comparable to Barrington, scoring very close to or even higher than Barrington did, despite the vast difference in median household incomes.
Teaching: Qualifications and Teacher-Student Ratio
Although all three compared districts are very different, their teaching qualifications and teacher-student ratio are about the same.
School Analysis
NECAP
Peace Dale Elementary School, although not a part of as wealthy a district as Primrose Elementary School in Barrington, strongly compares to their test scores. This shows that, although Peace Dale may not have as many resources as Primrose does, they are able to perform just as well, if not better.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Peace Dale is a small village in a well-off town with much to offer to anyone looking to move there, such as schools like Peace Dale Elementary School. Although it is not a part of a district that is as wealthy as Barrington’s, Peace Dale Elementary School closely compares to Barrington’s Primrose Elementary school, in high NECAP test scores and attendance rates, as well as similar teacher qualifications and student-teacher ratios. Although diversity is not something that is assured in Peace Dale, as it would be in a city like Central Falls, it is true that the graduation rate is higher than Rhode Island’s average. Additionally, Peace Dale is only a few miles away from the University of Rhode Island, where Peace Dale Elementary School students could attend for in-state tuition in the future.
Aside from being so close to the state school, Peace Dale is not far from tourist attractions such as Narragansett, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Newport shops, restaurants, and beaches that make for great vacation spots during the summer season. With many surrounding resources and attractions, South Kingstown and Peace Dale Elementary School are a town and school with so much potential educational life experiences to offer.
References
American FactFinder. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
Peace Dale, Rhode Island ...Full of Surprises! (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014.
http://www.peacedale.net/home.html
Peace Dale Elementary School (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014.
http://pd.skschools.net
Peace Dale Elementary School - School and District data - RIDE InfoWorks. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014.
http://infoworks.ride.ri.gov/school/peace-dale-elementary-school
Profile of South Kingstown School Department. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2014.
http://www.skschools.net/Profile
RUBRIC
Name: Tatyana LeiteGrader: Chris Fletcher
Score: 30/35
Introduction: 5/5 points
5: Intro provides an overview of the upcoming analysis, including what school/district/community is being analyzed, what aspects are being analyzed, and who the report is intended to inform.
4: Intro names the school/district/community and previews the scope of the report, but does not describe who the report is intended to inform.
3: Intro names the school/district/community but not much else.
2: Intro fails to name the school, district, and/or community.
0: No introduction section is apparent.
Comments on report's introduction:
Organization: 4/5 points
5: Report includes the following sections: Introduction, Community, District, School, Conclusion, References.
4: Report includes all sections but does not break information into paragraphs, has few transitions, or is otherwise lacking in coherence.
3: Report is missing one section.
2: Report is not divided into sections but contains some information on each.
1: Report is missing two or more sections.
Comments on report's organization:
Organize layout of the images and paragraphs better.
Mechanics: 2/5 points
5. All information is cited using APA in-text citations. A properly formatted References section appears at the end of the report.
There are few typos or errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax.
4: Most information is cited and referenced using APA format. There are some errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax but they do not interfere with meaning.
3: Some information is not cited or referenced. APA format not followed or followed incorrectly. There are some errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax that interfere with meaning.
2: Most of the information is not cited. APA formatting is negligible or nonexistent. Multiple errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax interfere with meaning.
0: No citations. No references. Myriad errors in spelling, grammar, or syntax make the report a chore to read.
Comments on report’s mechanics/conventions:
Creativity: 5/5
5. Report is engaging and colorful. Charts, graphs, and images add professionalism and interest and are well integrated into the report.
4: Report contains some interesting sections. Charts, graphs and images are relevant and add interest to the report.
3: Report appears dull. Information is reported in a disengaged manner. Charts, graphs, and images add little to the report.
Comments on report's creativity:
Conclusion: 4/5
5: Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community and describes why findings should be important to reader.
4: Conclusion reviews analysis of school, district and community
3: Conclusion does not report back to report's findings.
1: Conclusion simply praises or condemns the school.
0: No conclusion.
Comments on report's conclusion:
Data/Analysis: 10/10
5: Report includes at least ten different facts in each section (school, community, district) and compares each figure with another relevant figure (e.g. state or national average).
4: Report includes at least eight different facts in each section and compares most figures with relevant figures.
3: Report includes at least six different facts in each section and compares some of the figures to other relevant figures.
2: Report includes at least four different facts in each section and compares some of the figures to other relevant figures.
0: Report includes less than four different facts for any section or fails to compare any figures with other relevant figures.
Comments on data/analysis/General comments: